Shadow business secretary, Clive Lewis, said: "It is an outrage that, before Christmas trees have even been taken down, chief ­executives have already earned more in 2017 than most people will earn all year.

"But despite promising action, the Tories have watered down their pledge to give shareholders binding votes on executive pay. Under this Government, these grossly unfair pay patterns look set to continue."

A conservative estimate of the total pay and perks of Britain's top 100 bosses in 2015 is £4million, however other calculations put it at £5.5million.

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Equality Trust executive director Dr Wanda Wyporska said: "Bosses continue to rake in millions even when they fail, but those who care for us, protest us and teach our children are left struggling to get by.

"Our priorities are all wrong. We know there are excellent bosses out there, but do we really value them 172 times more than a nurse or 145 times a teacher?"

£8.9million: Michael Dobson left asset manager Schroders last year

High Pay Centre director Stefan Stern said: “Fat Cat Wednesday is an important reminder of the continuing problem of the unfair pay gap. We hope the Government will recognise that further reform to pay practices are needed to close this gap.”

Figures from industry experts ­Manifest show the average FTSE 100 chief executive’s pay and perks package jumped from £3million in 2004 - a rise of 84%.